CVE-2016-4264 in ColdFusion
Summary
by MITRE
The Office Open XML (OOXML) feature in Adobe ColdFusion 10 before Update 21 and 11 before Update 10 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files or send TCP requests to intranet servers via a crafted OOXML spreadsheet containing an external entity declaration in conjunction with an entity reference, related to an XML External Entity (XXE) issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4264 represents a critical XML External Entity (XXE) flaw within Adobe ColdFusion's Office Open XML processing capabilities. This issue affects versions prior to specific update releases, specifically ColdFusion 10 before Update 21 and ColdFusion 11 before Update 10, making it a significant concern for organizations utilizing these older versions of the platform. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the XML parsing mechanism that handles OOXML spreadsheet files, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system through carefully crafted malicious documents.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a sophisticated XXE attack vector that leverages external entity declarations within OOXML spreadsheets. When ColdFusion processes these maliciously constructed documents, the XML parser inadvertently resolves external entity references that point to local files or internal network resources. This mechanism allows attackers to perform unauthorized file reads from the server filesystem or initiate TCP connections to intranet services that would normally be protected by network segmentation. The flaw essentially bypasses normal access controls by exploiting the XML processing pipeline to gain information disclosure and potentially execute further attacks against internal systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, creating a potential gateway for more severe attacks within network environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to map internal network structures, extract sensitive configuration files, access database connection strings, or even perform port scanning of internal services. The ability to send TCP requests to intranet servers means that this vulnerability could facilitate lateral movement attacks, allowing threat actors to probe internal systems and potentially establish persistent access. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where ColdFusion servers may have access to sensitive internal resources.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies focusing on both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening. The primary recommendation involves applying the relevant security updates provided by Adobe, specifically ColdFusion 10 Update 21 and ColdFusion 11 Update 10, which contain patches addressing the XXE processing issues. Additionally, implementing XML parser configuration changes that disable external entity resolution and DTD processing can provide defense-in-depth measures. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be reviewed to limit unnecessary access to ColdFusion servers, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect suspicious file upload activities and unusual network connections originating from affected systems. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-611 (Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference) and represents a common attack pattern categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell), demonstrating how XXE vulnerabilities can serve as initial access vectors for broader exploitation campaigns.